Bullish Kicker candlestick pattern
A bearish candle followed by a bullish candle that gaps up and opens above the prior candle's open, then keeps going. One of the most forceful reversal patterns.
Illustrative shape. Real patterns vary in proportion.
How to identify a Bullish Kicker
- First candle is bearish
- Second candle opens at or above the first candle's open, a gap in the opposite direction
- Second candle is a strong bullish body
- The two bodies don't overlap
What the Bullish Kicker tells you
Kickers usually follow news: something changed overnight and the market repriced instantly. The gap means anyone who sold the prior day is immediately underwater.
How traders use it
Because the shift is so abrupt, kickers are among the more reliable candlestick signals. Traders often act on the second candle's close with a stop below the gap; the gap itself frequently acts as support.
Before taking any pattern-based trade, decide your stop first and size the position from it with the position size calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Bullish Kicker bullish or bearish? +
The Bullish Kicker is a bullish reversal pattern. A bearish candle followed by a bullish candle that gaps up and opens above the prior candle's open, then keeps going. One of the most forceful reversal patterns.
How reliable is the Bullish Kicker? +
No candlestick pattern works every time. Patterns are more reliable when they form at a meaningful level (support, resistance, a moving average), after a clear trend, on higher volume, and when the next candle confirms them.
Do I need confirmation to trade the Bullish Kicker? +
Most traders want it. Waiting for the next candle to move in the expected direction filters out many false signals, at the cost of a slightly worse entry price.
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